LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Officials have designated the White River in Arkansas and its watershed as a National Blueway.

The river is the second in the nation to receive that distinction; the Connecticut River was the first.

The 700-plus-mile White River runs through Arkansas and Missouri and includes two national forests.

The designation was announced Wednesday in Little Rock at an event attended by Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes, Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture Ann Mills, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Terrence Salt, Sen. Mark Pryor and Rep. Tim Griffin.

It is part of an Obama administration effort to establish a community-driven conservation and recreation agenda. The designation will recognize the partnerships that are working to conserve the river across its watershed.